The Alpha's Fierce Luna Kyra

Kyra Ashwood is undefeated. The first female warrior the country has ever seen, and still unbeaten.

"Caleb! You were great on the grounds today." I jogged up to one of my students. "I was pleasantly surprised at how well you used the takedown to get your opponent to the ground. But remember to use your whole body - you can strike with knees, stomps, elbows, and punches too."

I'd just finished a mixed martial arts class with the twelve-to-sixteen-year-olds. All defence training happens in the outdoor fighting ring, or the outdoor cage for the older students.

The thirteen-year-old beamed up at me, sweat trickling down his face. "Thanks, Chief! I'll work on it, I promise."

I nodded, a proud smile tugging at my mouth. He's so young and already has the kind of work ethic most adults never develop.

"Oh - and happy birthday, Chief!" he shouted, then took off running, giggling to himself.

I groaned and dropped onto the grass, laughing under my breath. I'd already lost count of how many students had wished me happy birthday today. My birthday is something I'd rather keep quiet - I've never liked that kind of attention.

Hearing footsteps behind me, I called out without turning around. "It's not hard to guess who told everyone it's my birthday."

Jayden dropped down beside me, stretching with a laugh. "Turning nineteen isn't something to hide. I felt it was my duty to blab it to everyone and their pets."

"That's nice of you," I said, deadpan.

"It was my honor," he replied, completely missing the sarcasm.

I rolled my eyes and lay back next to him. We stayed like that for a while, quiet, watching the sky shift into sunset colours, the breeze light against our skin.

Then he sat up and looked at me knowingly. "Since it's your birthday, you know what happens today, right?"

"I'm sure Kaitlyn and Magnus are already setting up my party," I laughed, pushing myself up.

Jay's parents - the Alpha and Luna - took me in as a newborn and have raised me ever since. They've thrown me a birthday party every year without fail, and it's become something I genuinely look forward to.

"You know my parents would never let a birthday go by quietly," he laughed, standing with me. "The party's probably already started. Want to head over now?"

I nodded and started toward the pack town, a flicker of nerves catching me off guard. For the first time, the party would include the whole pack instead of just family.

Am I supposed to go around talking to everyone, or can I just stick with the people I know? Jay must have sensed the shift in my mood, because he asked, "Want to go for a quick run through the forest first?"

"Can't - my wolf's exhausted. I let her out around lunch, we hunted two deer and ran for hours. Don't worry about me, go have fun."

I perked up at the sound of teenagers laughing and shrieking in the distance. "Sounds like everyone's already there!" I broke into a run toward the noise.

I felt Jay's worried gaze on my back and turned to flash him a reassuring smile. Out of everyone, he knows me best - he knows exactly how hard I find it to be around people.

It comes down to my wolf. She's always demanded respect, and the two of us have never handled it well when someone talks down to us or treats us with disrespect.

In my early teens, I lashed out at anyone who tried to challenge me, until no one dared to. It pushed the whole pack away from me. No matter how hard I tried to bury that instinct to dominate, it was always stronger than I was. It took years - and Jay and his parents - to help me get it under control.

Jay went through something similar, but no one questioned it in him - he's the future Alpha; dominance is just in his blood. Me? I had no excuse. Most of the pack wrote me off as the troubled orphan pup the Alpha and Luna were raising out of pity.

None of them expected me to grow into one of the strongest wolves in the pack - let alone as a female.

There was plenty of controversy over whether I should even be allowed on the pack's defence team, but after enough trials and evaluations, I was finally cleared to join. That decision bruised more than a few male egos - no one wanted to admit how humiliating it would be to lose to a female wolf.

With Kaitlyn and Magnus behind me, I became the first female wolf in the United States to join a pack's defence team. Word spread to every pack in the country, and Alphas started showing up just to watch me fight. Eventually, I earned their respect - and the respect of females across the country. Since then, a lot more males have come around to the idea of a female warrior.

That's how I became who I am today: Kyra Ashwood, nineteen years old, the first female warrior, recently promoted to Chief Warrior. I train the younger wolves and spar with the defence team to keep the pack safe. If we're ever attacked, it'll be my job to protect them. Wolves from other packs regularly request sparring

matches with me, and I never turn one down.

The one rule: I'll fight anyone, any gender - except Alphas and Betas. I wouldn't stand a chance against them. Everyone else is fair game. I fight for my own pride and for my pack's, and nothing beats that feeling of winning.

So, all in all, I'm content. I have everything I could ask for, and I'm grateful for it. Lately, Kaitlyn - Jay's mom - has started bringing up the subject of mates.

Most wolves my age have already found theirs. Kaitlyn worries about me, since I've travelled so much for matches without ever crossing paths with mine. Then again, Jay's twenty-one and hasn't found his either.

Maybe I just haven't found mine because I'm not ready. I don't even know what being in a relationship is like - it's an uncomfortable subject, and I was praying she wouldn't bring it up at the party.

We came in through the back garden to find teenagers and young adults crowded around the pool, some of them using red cups as makeshift snorkels as they dove in. I shook my head, smiling - I've never understood the appeal of drinking for us. Alcohol barely touches wolves; it'd take five bottles of vodka before we'd even feel it. Still, I guess it sets the mood for a party.

Everyone sensed Jay's presence and turned, bowing their heads in submission before breaking into smiles and drifting our way. Seeing them so happy made me laugh - maybe a big party wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Then Jay stepped in front of me, pushing me behind him, a low warning growl building in his chest as his green eyes narrowed at the crowd. I frowned, confused, until I peeked over his shoulder and realised the group approaching us was entirely male. I rolled my eyes and smacked his shoulder.

"Jayden. We just want to wish her happy birthday, calm down," one of the guys said, smirking, hands raised in surrender.

I nearly face-palmed. Did he really just tell Jay to calm down? Of all the things he could've said.

Already feeling Jay's temper spike, I started massaging his neck - a trick I picked up from Kaitlyn that, ironically, actually calms him down. Once his breathing evened out, I used the moment to talk him down further.

"Jay - just let them wish me happy birthday. Then we'll go find Kaitlyn and Magnus, okay?" I looked up at him, smiling. I didn't want him causing a scene he'd regret later, like always.

He gritted his teeth, jaw locked, and gave a stiff nod, not trusting himself to speak. I stepped in front of him before he could change his mind and gave the group a polite wave.

"Happy birthday, Kyra!" they called back, laughing, before falling into their own conversation. I couldn't help but eavesdrop as we walked away.

"She waved at me. How cute," one murmured, chuckling.

"She's gotten so hot - have you seen her in the fighting cage?"

"That tight leather fighting gear," another added, and I frowned at that. It's aerodynamic and lightweight; that's the whole point - I'd never really considered what people thought of it.

I glanced down at my outfit without meaning to. I wasn't training today, just teaching, so I'd worn a fitted black long-sleeve shirt with grey joggers cinched at the ankle, and my black-and-white Nikes. Easy to shift out of and back into - that's all that mattered to me.

"I mean, how does someone look that good sweating and panting like that? Imagine having her in bed."

I nearly gagged. Pervert. Before I could react, someone else cut in.

"She'd eat you all for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Don't underestimate her," another one sighed. I smiled at that, grateful someone had brought them back down to earth.

I'd been so absorbed in eavesdropping I hadn't even noticed we'd reached the living room. I glanced at Jay beside me - judging by his face, he definitely hadn't caught any of it. I didn't want to imagine what he'd do if he had. He sees me as a little sister, but he's been growing more possessive lately, and I'm honestly not sure what to do about it.

"Kyra, darling!" a warm voice called out from the crowd.

My mood lifted instantly at the sight of Kaitlyn's face. I jogged over and pulled her into a long, tight hug - I could never put into words how much I love her, so I let my actions say it instead.

"Aww, group hug!" Jay exclaimed, wrapping his arms around both of us.

Just as Kaitlyn and I started protesting - jokingly - I felt someone else join the hug. Looking up, I was surprised to see it was the Alpha himself, Magnus.

"Ah, Dad! Nice of you to join us!" Jay laughed, his voice muffled against my hair. Magnus chuckled, clearly caught up in the mood.

"Happy birthday, Kyra!" they said in unison as the hug broke apart, catching me off guard all over again.

Magnus kissed the top of my head. "I wish you happiness."

Ah, the family wishes - I'd almost forgotten. I thanked him. Then Kaitlyn kissed the top of my head, gave me a mischievous look, and said, "I wish you find your mate."

"Really, Mom? Didn't she say she wasn't ready for one?" Jay whined, fixing the mess he'd made of my hair. Kaitlyn and I both turned to stare at him.

"How do you even know that?" I asked, eyebrow raised. We'd both been sure he was asleep when we'd had that conversation.

Kaitlyn crossed her arms, waiting. Magnus just chuckled at Jay's predicament.

Jay laughed nervously, glancing at his father as if he might save him.

"Sorry, can't save you this time, son," Magnus said, backing out of the room. I held back my laughter and turned to Jay with a mock-serious expression.

"So, obviously, I was awake and I eavesdropped," he admitted sheepishly. "You know I can't stop listening once I start! I heard the word 'mate' and your voice - how was I supposed to not listen?"

"It's still wrong to listen in on a conversation you weren't invited into. That's basic manners, and I taught you that as a child," Kaitlyn scolded, giving him a disapproving look.

Guilt hit me - I'd been doing the same thing not five minutes ago.

"Thank you for your wish, Kaitlyn," I said quickly, steering the topic elsewhere.

Jay seemed to notice and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. I smiled and waited for his wish, but he just stood there, smiling down at me.

"So - are you going to say something, or just stand there like an idiot?" I asked, tilting my head at him.

"I'll give you my wish when I think of one," he said, taking my hand and leading me through the crowd.

"So what was the kiss for?" I laughed, shaking my head.

"I just felt like it."

The party had been going for four hours with no sign of slowing down. I was on the sofa, watching a group of friends play truth or dare, a game I'd never actually played with a group.

I recognised almost everyone in the circle, all of them easygoing, familiar faces. One girl I didn't know, perched on her mate's lap, glanced up and smiled at me. She whispered something in his ear, and he shifted over to open a space in the circle.

"Kyra, the birthday girl! Want to join us?" the girl called out.

Everyone turned my way, waiting. I hesitated for a beat, half-expecting someone to object - then nodded and slid into the open spot.

The rules were simple: spin the bottle; whoever it landed on got asked "truth or dare." The girl who'd invited me gave it the first spin. It slowed to a stop in front of the guy next to me - one of the few faces I didn't recognise. I let out a breath I hadn't realised I was holding. For some reason, I hadn't wanted it to land on me.

"Intense, right?" the girl grinned.

I laughed at myself and nodded.

"Truth or dare, Daniel?"

"Dare," the guy beside me said immediately.

"I dare you to fight Kyra tomorrow," a guy - Tom, I was pretty sure - said gleefully.

Daniel shot me a nervous look and groaned. "No, that doesn't count. You said tomorrow, not today. Dares have to happen today."

Laughter and headshakes went around the circle. I couldn't help laughing too - the guy practically radiated helplessness. Eventually it was settled: he'd face me in MMA the next morning.

The bottle spun again and landed on me. Every eye turned my way. "Truth or dare?"

I knew better than to pick dare with a group I barely knew.

"Truth."

"Can I ask?" a petite girl named Amber said, hand half-raised. Everyone shrugged, which she took as a yes.

"Have you and Jayden ever been in a romantic relationship?"

The circle went quiet, curious eyes locking onto me. I opened my mouth, closed it again, genuinely thrown that someone would ask.

"Remember - the truth. Nothing but," Amber said, arms folded.

I stared at her, stunned. What the hell?

"Jay and I have always been platonic. Completely. We're basically siblings - his parents raised me, for god's sake."

"So you call our future Alpha 'Jay'? Doesn't he hate that?" she pressed, leaning in, holding my gaze.

My wolf's unease spiked the longer she stared - like she was issuing a challenge. I focused on my breathing, the way I'd been trained, and forced my temper down a notch. Just explain it. She probably just wants clarity.

But the wolf in me didn't want to explain anything - she thought the question didn't deserve an answer at all.

Still, I kept my voice level. My temper already had a reputation; I didn't need to prove it further.

"I've called him that since I was a toddler. It's just a nickname. I thought this game was one question per turn."

"You're right, Amber. I do hate being called Jay." A deep, familiar voice sounded behind me.

I turned to find Jay standing there, two red cups in hand - he'd finally found the Coke I'd been craving.

"I hate it from anyone who isn't Kyra," he said coldly, eyes on Amber until she bared her neck in submission.

"'Jay' belongs to her. My sister. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir," she said quickly, neck still exposed.

Honestly, I'd stopped paying attention to any of it - all my focus was on the cup in his hand. I reached for it, and he bent down to hand it over. I gulped the Coke down, the fizz settling my stomach. I always craved it after my wolf hunted - a weirdly specific habit, but there it is.

Jay dropped onto the sofa beside me and waved for the game to continue. The bottle spun a few more times, landing on nearly everyone, all of whom picked truth.

Then it landed on me again. Truth, again. This time no one rushed to ask - not with Jay sitting right there.

Daniel spoke first. "You have to answer honestly, okay?"

I rolled my eyes, laughing. "I know how the game works."

"Do you think you could beat Irene in a match?" he finally asked.

The circle gasped, all eyes on me. Even people across the room stopped what they were doing to look over. It felt like everyone was holding their breath.

I doubt anyone expected what came out of my mouth next.

"Who?"

Chaos erupted.

Everyone talked over each other at once, standing, gesturing wildly. Through the noise: "How do you not know who Irene is?" "Do you live under a rock?" "She said WHO?" "That's the spirit!"

I glanced at Jay, equally confused. He just shrugged and kept sipping his drink.

Good plan. I did the same, waiting for the noise to die down - which, to my surprise, happened faster than I expected.

Daniel spoke again first. "So do you actually not know who she is, or are you just saying that to prove you don't see her as a rival?"

Everyone quieted, waiting. I shrugged and took another sip, unintentionally cranking the tension up further. Realising they wanted an actual answer, I said, "I really don't know who Irene is."

A few gasps. A couple sharp breaths.

Who is this girl, to get this kind of reaction?

My curiosity spiked watching everyone's faces - clearly I was missing something big, though that tracked. I'm always the last to know anything.

"Damn, you really do live under a rock," the girl who'd invited me said, climbing off her mate's lap and settling in front of me instead.

"Okay, is someone going to explain who Irene is or not?" I asked.

"Gladly," she said, winking. "I'm Hana, by the way." She kept going before I could respond. "Ever since you became the first female warrior in the country, other female wolves have been following your lead. A couple months back, a wolf named Irene started winning every match she's fought."

That's... a good thing, isn't it? Another female wolf dominating her matches sounded amazing to me. Half of

why I travel for matches is to prove what females are capable of.

"What pack's she from?"

Silence.

"Well?" I prompted.

"The BlackShadowed Pack," Daniel said quietly, watching my reaction.

Oh.

I'd never set foot on their territory, and had no plans to. The rumours around that pack were dark, and plenty of them. Their former Alpha had earned the nickname "the Mad Alpha" for how ruthless and shady his methods were - methods that apparently worked, since they're the most powerful pack in the country. Two years since his death, and the pack still runs the same way. Word is the current Alpha, young as he is, is every bit his father's son.

"Anyway - Irene's been challenging the best fighter in every pack. You included," Hana continued, chin propped on her hand. "She's undefeated so far."

So she wants to fight me. Honestly, that sounded like real competition - and I couldn't pretend that wasn't exciting. But excitement wasn't the same as permission. I had to think about our pack's reputation. We couldn't afford to be linked with that pack, not with the clean record we'd built.

The Imperial Pride ranks second only to the BlackShadowed Pack in power, territory, and influence. The real difference between us comes down to how we run things - and how we handle money.

"That's not even all of it, Kyra," Hana said, pulling my attention back. "She's been running her mouth for months, calling herself 'better than you' in every way. Since you never responded to her request, she's started calling you a coward. A poser. She's known for leaving opponents nearly dead by the end of a fight - calls herself 'The White Devil.' It's been the talk of every pack lately. We figured you already knew."

Oh. Well, damn.

"Wow," I said, flat. Inside, I was seething.

This girl didn't know a single thing about me and had the nerve to judge me like that. I hadn't even known she existed, let alone that she'd requested a match - until right now.

Magnus usually handles match requests for me, notifying me the moment one comes in. So why hadn't he mentioned this one? Because of the pack she belonged to?

And leaving opponents "almost dead"? Any strong fighter could do that. Where's the respect in it? A sparring match is about testing skill, not about seeing how close you can get to killing someone. That's what battlefields are for.

"So? Do you consider her a rival?" Daniel asked. "She's stirring up the whole community. Last time anyone caused this much noise, it was you."

"Are you gonna accept the fight?" someone else called out.

I stayed quiet, careful not to say the wrong thing. If I so much as hinted at accepting, it'd be all over social

media within the hour. Magnus had a reason for keeping this from me - I needed to find out what it was before deciding anything.

"We'll review the terms of the request before anyone decides anything, so hold off on asking," Jayden said, stepping in. I shot him a grateful look - he always knew exactly when to step in.

I stood, stretching legs gone numb from sitting too long. Did they really think Irene could beat me? The way they talked about her, it almost sounded like they believed it.

Could she? There was no way to know without seeing her fight. I wondered if there was footage anywhere.

~~

A couple of hours later, most of the guests had cleared out. Only a handful stayed to help clean up - just me, Jay, Hana, and her mate, who I now knew was named Michael.

Thankfully, cleanup was limited to the ground floor - upstairs had been off-limits the whole party. A downstairs bathroom comes in handy for exactly this kind of thing; otherwise people find excuses to snoop through bedrooms.

Kaitlyn and Magnus came down the stairs to check on us. There are moments I catch myself noticing how different I look from them - not that it should matter, since we're not related, but it used to bother me more

when I was younger. I stood out. It made it obvious I didn't quite belong.

Jay got his parents' curly golden-blond hair. His green eyes came from Kaitlyn; Magnus has brown. I'm basically their opposite - waist-length chestnut waves, storm-grey eyes framed by thick dark lashes. Cheeks that flush naturally, which makes people assume I'm sweet before they learn who I actually am. And I bite my lip when I concentrate, which turns it red - a habit Kaitlyn's been trying to break me of for years.

"Hana, Michael - thank you both for helping. That was kind of you," Kaitlyn said, walking over with a smile.

"Our pleasure, Luna," Michael said immediately, bowing slightly.

"We've already let your parents know you're here, but head home and rest - you've done more than

enough," Magnus added.

"Thank you, Alpha." Hana smiled, then turned to wave at Jay and me. "See you guys around!"

"Bye!" we called back together.

Watching Michael lead Hana out, my mind drifted straight back to Irene and the match request. I set down the trash bag I'd been holding and walked over to the Alpha and Luna.

Their smiles widened as I approached. "How's the birthday girl? How was your first big party?"

"Really good, actually. More fun than I expected," I said honestly.

"Good. That's exactly what we hoped for," Magnus said, ruffling my hair.

I smiled up at him, already sure he'd understand why I might want to accept the request. Something in me had ignited - a real need to prove that girl wrong.

"Magnus, I need to talk to you about something," I said, my tone shifting to serious.

His eyebrow lifted slightly before he waved me toward his office. I followed him up the stairs, catching Kaitlyn's mouth What's this about? behind his back. I mouthed back, Just come.

I glanced around for Jay, only to find him passed out on the couch - literally half his body hanging off the edge, the rest sprawled on the floor. I bit back a laugh and kept walking.

We settled into his office, Kaitlyn right behind me, clearly curious. Once I was seated across from his desk, I got straight to it.

"Today I found out a girl named Irene, from the BlackShadowed Pack, requested a match with me - months ago. She's been using my silence against me this whole time, mocking my ability to fight. Why wasn't I told

about this, Alpha?"

Magnus eased back in his chair, fingers tapping the desk. I glanced at Kaitlyn, surprised to see she looked completely unbothered.

"You knew too?" I asked her, stunned. "Wow. I really do live under a rock."

"I didn't tell you because I don't trust that pack," Magnus said. "One of their conditions is that the match happens on their territory. Once you're there, I have almost no control over what happens to you. That's what worries me."

"I can handle myself. I'll bring pack members with me, same as I always do when I travel."

He should know by now - I've never gone into another pack's territory unprepared.

"With other packs, I know the Alphas and Lunas personally. I trust your safety there because we're allies. The BlackShadowed Pack doesn't play by the rules, and we have no treaty with them. They can do almost anything and answer to no one."

I shook my head, frustration building. "If they hurt one of our people on purpose, wouldn't that start a war?"

Magnus shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time they've done it anyway. Look - Irene hasn't lost a single match.

If she's from that pack, she's got dirty tricks up her sleeve, guaranteed. I don't want you caught on the wrong end of one of them. I don't want you beaten unfairly."

I nodded slowly, letting that sink in. "You really think she could beat me?"

"With whatever tricks she's got? Yes."

I understood his point, even if it stung. I'm considered an anomaly - a female wolf who outmatches most males isn't something that happens often. If Irene's really as good as everyone says, there's probably more to her story than what's on the surface.

"Because I care about you, I'll let you make this decision. As your Alpha, I want you to think it through carefully first. Whatever you decide, Kaitlyn and I will stand behind you."

It's been a couple of weeks since the party, and I still hadn't made a decision. Unfortunately, the rumors and gossip had only gotten worse since then - and increasingly ridiculous.

Apparently, I'd called Irene "fake" and told everyone "I will destroy her to pieces." Come on. That doesn't even sound like me. Not that Irene would know that.

The more days that passed, the more I found myself leaning toward accepting the request. Why? Curiosity, mostly. I wanted to see how well Irene could actually fight - what made her so unbeatable, so worthy of the name "The White Devil."

Doesn't the devil work in nasty ways? I definitely wouldn't want that title myself, though I'll admit it's effective at intimidating people.

I was completely absorbed in a YouTube video, snacks lined up on my bed so I wouldn't have to move, when my bedroom door flew open. Jay stood there in grey sweatpants and a white tee.

"Don't you know how to knock?" I exclaimed, trying to discreetly hide the family-size bag of Cheetos.

"Don't you ever get tired of saying that every time I walk in?" he shot back, diving onto my bed and rumpling the covers even further.

"Don't even think about hiding those Cheetos. I could smell that flavor from a mile away."

Sighing, I shifted to make room for him. He got comfortable and immediately tore into the bag, making me scoff.

I bought that with my own money. But he probably hadn't eaten since breakfast, so I let it slide.

"So how was college today? How'd it feel driving all the way to campus for one lecture?" I laughed, digging a handful of Cheetos out of the bag.

His reply was a glare and an eye roll.

"It wasn't just lectures. Our class had gown fittings."

I frowned. "Gowns?"

He turned to face me. "Graduation gowns. I'm graduating in a month, remember?"

Already?

I could still picture his first day of college. Three years, just like that. He'd been studying business - something that would come in handy once he became our Alpha.

"Feels like just yesterday you started," I said, half in a daze. "You've grown up so much."

The words were barely out of my mouth before he smacked the back of my head. "You say that like you're older than me!"

Rubbing my head, I muttered, "I just wanted to say it. Didn't need to hit me for it."

"In two years, you'll be graduating too. That's when I get to say 'you've grown so much.'" He pulled the laptop out of my hands before I could stop him.

Then, before I could even protest, he asked, "So - are you thinking of accepting Irene's request?"

I looked at him, caught off guard. "I don't know what to do," I admitted honestly. "Part of me wants to accept, just to put the rumors to rest once and for all. You know how much I love competition, and it's been forever since I've faced anyone worth fighting. But another part of me doesn't want to put the pack's reputation at risk. And since there's no peace treaty between our packs, there's a real chance they could hurt our people."

Jay sat up straight, nodding along. "So which part's stronger?" he asked, serious now.

It was an easy question, honestly. I wanted to accept - but I didn't want to be selfish about it either. I had to

think about everyone else, not just myself.

I stayed quiet, weighing whether to tell him the truth. He waited patiently. Should I actually say it out loud?

"I really want to accept," I finally said, low. Saying it out loud made me feel strangely guilty. Am I being selfish?

To my surprise, Jay burst out laughing, hard enough that I nearly lost my balance - which shouldn't even have been possible, given I was lying on my bed.

"I already knew. I just needed you to say it," he said, clapping his hands together. "For the record, you have my full support."

I sat up so fast I nearly toppled over. "Whoa, whoa. Hold on. I never said I'd accept it."

"You said you wanted to. Might as well," he shrugged, like it was nothing.

"But the consequences-" I started.

"Screw the consequences. If I go with you, no one touches either of us. Is that what you're actually worried about?" His eyes narrowed, serious now, laced with concern.

"You'd come?" I stared at him, stunned. He'd never come to a single one of my matches before - not that it usually mattered whether he showed up. Future Alphas just don't travel without their Alpha and Luna, for safety reasons.

"Your parents would never let you."

"You'd be surprised what they'll allow when you're part of the deal," he said, winking.

"And the pack's reputation? Other packs might think we're teaming up with the strongest pack in the country just to grab more power." I was scrambling for excuses now, anything to avoid admitting how badly I wanted to go.

Because of course I wanted to. I just had to think about the bigger picture.

"We'll call every pack in the country before we leave and explain exactly why we're visiting the BlackShadowed

Pack. That way there's no confusion about us allying with them for power." He answered fast, like he'd already prepped for every excuse I could throw at him.

I sat there quietly as the excitement crept in. Could I really go to their territory and fight there? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dying to see what their pack was like. Barely anyone gets access to their land - you need permission from both packs just to set foot there. Trespass, and it's up to them how you're punished.

Our pack, the Imperial Pride, usually questions a trespasser first before deciding on punishment. I'd heard that BlackShadowed Pack kills trespassers on sight - no exceptions for age, gender, or rank.

"It's not enough to convince me. We still have to convince the Alpha and Luna," I sighed. It felt impossible, especially remembering their reaction after the party.

"Good news!" Jay shouted directly into my ear, making me shove his face away on instinct. "I already got Mom

on our side. She'll back us up with Dad."

I gaped at him. "You convinced Kaitlyn? Seriously? I figured she'd be the first to say 'absolutely not, that's a suicide trip.'"

He shrugged, clearly pleased with himself. "I have my ways."

"Now, the actual reason I barged in and stole your Cheetos - Dad's about to get home. I needed you to admit you wanted this, so you'd be ready to convince him. We've been talking a while, so his car could pull up any minute."

I stared at him, honestly stunned by how far he'd gone to give me a real fight. He must've noticed how starved I'd been for real competition - every match I'd had lately had been far too easy.

I hadn't changed my training at all, and yet somehow I kept getting stronger by the day. I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that he'd gotten Kaitlyn on our side.

Just then, I heard a familiar engine pulling up out front. Jay jumped off the bed, shooting me a knowing, mischievous look. His timing never ceased to amaze me - like he had an internal clock built for exactly this. I took a breath, gathered my courage, and followed him out of my room. Magnus's footsteps were already on the stairs, heading toward his office as usual.

Jay and I stood outside the office door, silently arguing over who should knock first. We must've taken too long, because the door opened on its own - Magnus, standing there.

"What brings you kids to my office today?" he asked, one eyebrow raised in amusement.

Of course he'd heard every whisper, caught every trace of our scent. He might've raised Jay with love - raised me with love - but he was still our Alpha, and still every bit as intimidating as one.

Jay spoke first. "We wanted to talk to you about something."

Magnus opened the door wider and let us in. Once he was seated, he motioned for us to go ahead.

I spoke up this time - it felt wrong to let Jay carry the conversation when I was the one asking the favor. "It's about Irene's match request."

Magnus nodded, and I kept going. "After a lot of thought, I've decided I want to accept."

He sighed. "You understand the risks outweigh the benefits, right?"

Jay jumped in. "Actually, we've already worked out some strategies to make the trip safer."

The Alpha still looked unconvinced. "And what, exactly, are these strategies?"

Before either of us could answer, the door opened again. I didn't need to look - Kaitlyn's scent filled the room before she even stepped in behind us.

"Good timing!" I said through our mind link.

"Jayden wouldn't stop pestering me about a promise. I've got a mountain of paperwork today, but it'll wait," Kaitlyn replied, before cutting the connection.

"Honey, have you heard Kyra's decision about Irene's match request?" Magnus asked, clearly expecting her to side with him.

Not today. I kept my expression carefully neutral.

"Yes, I have. And I think we should let her go," she said, resting a warm hand on my shoulder.

I leaned into her touch, comforted knowing she had my back.

Magnus's expression flickered from shock to confusion to frustration in the span of a few seconds. He clearly hadn't expected his own wife to go against him on something he saw as reckless.

"For the safety of whichever pack members travel with Kyra, I think Jayden should go too," Kaitlyn continued, arms crossed. "His presence significantly lowers the odds of anything going wrong."

Magnus shook his head, disbelieving. "You want to send not just one of our best warriors, but our future

Alpha too? To the BlackShadowed Pack? Really?"

Kaitlyn nodded like it was the most reasonable thing in the world. I could tell every instinct in her was screaming against it, but she knew how to stay objective when it mattered.

"I've never traveled outside the pack on my own, Dad. I'd really appreciate the chance to go with Kyra," Jay added, pressing his palms together. "And as for our reputation - one phone call to every pack, explaining why we're going, clears that right up."

Magnus looked between Jay, me, and finally Kaitlyn. His expression softened the moment his eyes landed on her.

"Do you really think they can handle this?" he asked her quietly.

Her own expression softened in turn. "Honey, I know you're worried. But look at it objectively - they're an untouchable pair. Jayden's an Alpha's son, and Kyra's an incredible warrior. They'll have pack members with them, people who'd lay down their lives for either of them without hesitation. I'll help you call every Alpha myself to explain the visit."

Silence.

It was killing me. Will he actually let us go?

"Fine. I'll let them know you've accepted," Magnus sighed, turning to his computer. "But first, let me pull up the email with their conditions."

Jay's hand shot out beside me, and I slapped it in a triumphant high-five. I felt pumped - a real match, finally on the horizon. Not just any match, either. A match against a female warrior everyone considered real competition. Exactly the kind of challenge I'd been craving.

"The conditions were set by them, since they made the request," Magnus reminded us, scrolling. "First - the match takes place on their territory." I shrugged; fighting on foreign ground was nothing new to m

"Second, the date is chosen by their Alpha. Third, the match will be primarily Mixed Martial Arts. And finally - the length of your stay is also up to their Alpha." He looked up from the screen.

"Wait." I held up a hand. "The length of my stay is undecided?"

"That's what it says," Magnus replied, leaning back. "Having second thoughts?"

I shook my head fast, not wanting him to get the wrong idea. "No - it's just that usually, how long I stay somewhere is up to me. The change caught me off guard."

"This pack doesn't operate the way ours does. Or the way most packs do, honestly," he explained, watching me carefully. "The arrival date, though, is up to us. So - when do you want to go?"

"Next week!" Jay blurted before I could even open my mouth. I whipped my head toward him, alarmed. He just shrugged.

"No way, that's way too soon!" I said, shaking my head.

He shrugged again. "Might as well get it over with. Isn't that basically your motto?" he added, winking.

"Don't use my own words against me," I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. Still - he had a point, and I was in peak fighting shape. "Fine. Maybe you have a point."

"So?" Kaitlyn asked, waiting. I glanced at Magnus, fingers already hovering over the keyboard.

"We'll fly out in a week," I said, letting out a sharp breath.

Jay leapt out of his seat. "BlackShadowed Pack, here we come!"

I slid off my chair, far less gracefully, and joined him. "Here we come!"

Excited as I was, I couldn't quite shake the unease creeping under it - like something unexpected, something inevitable, was waiting for me. I brushed the feeling off and headed back to my room.

Time to prepare for the BlackShadowed Pack.

~~

Kyra got permission!! Off she goes to the most dangerous and mysterious pack...